At youth rangers you can do many practical tasks such as learning and using tools or completing animal surveys as well as the theory behind them. In practical tasks you will be using basic and high-tech equipment such as saws, loppers, sonic bat detectors and trail cameras. You can work alongside local experts to create habitats for animals such as mice, voles, hedgehogs, birds, bats, and amphibians such as frogs, toads, newts, and insects. You will also be using natural materials to build different habitats like bug hotels, hibernaculum, bat boxes, bird boxes, bee hotels and ponds. You will be learning skills like hedge laying, coppicing, and habitat management.

These groups have helped me get out of the house and into nature regularly. It's brilliant for making friends and getting to know people with the same or similar interests. It's really nice to know the work you are doing is actually helping the animals and plants around you.

At one of my most recent sessions we did willow cutting to clear space for new plants to grow and to get some natural material for willow fences. It was a great session if you like physically demanding tasks and next session, we will use the willow to build willow fences that will be a really enjoyable session.

These are some of the practical, beneficial, and enjoyable things about my time at youth ranges.

Why not see what’s happening at your local group.